Police use tear gas, water cannon on Algeria protesters

Algerian police used tear gas and water cannon on Friday to try to disperse hundreds of thousands of demonstrators demanding the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika days after the army called for his removal to end weeks of political crisis.

The protests, which erupted on Feb. 22, have been largely peaceful but have put pressure on the military to stabilize the North African country, a major oil and gas producer which cooperates with the West in fighting terrorism.

Police opened fire with tear gas after youths hurled stones at them, a Reuters witness said.

Some demonstrators called for the entire political elite to go, saying that while they were against Bouteflika they also rejected the army’s intervention in civilian political life.

“Streets pressure will continue until the system goes,” said student Mohamed Djemai, 25, as hundreds of riot police kept an eye on the protests and helicopters flew overhead.

“We have only one word to say today, all the gang must go immediately, game over”, said Ali a merchant, as other protesters shouted “the people want the fall of the regime”.

Families stood on balconies above the streets cheering the marchers, who shared out dates and water and bought ice cream from street vendors.

The army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah, on Tuesday asked the constitutional council to rule whether the ailing 82-year-old president is fit for office.

The move piled pressure on Bouteflika, who has failed to placate Algerians by reversing a decision to seek a fifth term.

Key allies have deserted the head of state, who has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013 and now faces the biggest crisis of his 20-year-old rule.